Children's home run by Nottingham City Council in Nottingham

Inspection report children’s home: SC470928 1 SC470928 Registered provider: Nottingham City Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides care and accommodation for up to four children and/or young people who have learning disabilities and associated communication difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 19 to 20 December 2018

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 12 December 2017

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC470928 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/12/2017 Full Outstanding 27/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 22/11/2016 Full Good 16/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC470928 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people enjoy excellent experiences at this home. The care and support provided is outstanding. Staff have consistently high aspirations for all young people. They provide opportunities to ensure that young people reach their potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Healthcare is a priority in this home. Staff have a detailed understanding about individual disabilities, health and medical needs. Staff are proactive and work alongside a range of healthcare professionals. This partnership work ensures that young people’s health outcomes are maximised.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Schools confirm that young people have excellent attendance, and progress in line with education plans. Education and social care staff make sure that there is support, guidance and effective daily communication regarding young people. Young people benefit from the consistency in care that this provides.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff empower young people to make choices and decisions about their day-to-day care and care plans. Staff communication is excellent. They support young people to use a range of non-verbal communication methods. Young people have their own personalised communication targets and plans. This means that young people are fully supported to have a say about their care and future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people thrive and flourish because they have access to a wide range of stimulating activities. All young people have a holiday of their choice. These have included holidays to Disneyland and Tenerife. Young people are actively involved in community, charitable and voluntary work. Participation at clubs and groups is supported and encouraged. Staff work hard to make sure that regardless of disabilities and health conditions, young people have enjoyable childhoods.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Preparing young people to move to adult placements is a priority for the staff team. Young people learn self-care and life skills in line with their age and understanding. Staff work sensitively to ensure that young people have increased independence. This widens their horizons and enables them to develop their own social circles.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Since the last inspection, this home has blossomed. The staff team has worked hard to make the house and the gardens a colourful, creative and lovely environment. Young people benefit from a sensory garden, education and craft area. They have personalised bedrooms, with professional wall murals of their choosing. The home meets the sensory needs of young people, while still being a comfortable family-style home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Safeguarding is of paramount importance at this home. Families, carers and social care professionals state that safeguarding practice is excellent. Inspection report children’s home: SC470928 4 Managers and staff have an excellent understanding of the vulnerabilities of young people who have disabilities. Staff participate in a range of safeguarding training, which is regularly refreshed. Training is effective in ensuring that staff understand the protection needs of young people who have disabilities.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Risks to young people are understood from the outset of the placement. Risk assessments are effective in providing guidance to ensure that young people are safe. Risk assessments are responsive and enable young people to have increasing levels of freedom. This means that they can safely experience new challenges and develop new skills.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Educating and teaching young people to keep safe is a core activity for the home. One staff member said: ‘We teach young people skills so they can take care of their intimate care needs. This gives them privacy and means that they have more control and can keep themselves safe.’ The range of work is extensive, but includes internet and mobile phone safety, safe use of public transport and developing appropriate relationships.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Behaviour is exceptionally well managed. Staff support young people to understand and manage their own behaviour. Positive behaviour is encouraged and rewarded. This means that physical interventions are rarely used.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

High levels of staff supervision and support mean that young people are safe. On trips, activities and holidays, young people are well monitored. As a result, they do not go missing and are not in contact with unsafe individuals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leadership and management arrangements are exceptional. The responsible individual, registered manager and deputy manager are highly effective. Their combined skills, knowledge and commitment ensure the smooth operation of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is tenacious and passionate. He has high expectations of himself and of his staff team. He expects all young people to have the best experience, outcomes and futures.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is an effective advocate for young people. He challenges not only for individual young people, but to effect change for the benefit of all young people who have disabilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Partnership work is extensive. Multi-disciplinary work means that care plans are progressed and ensures that the best interests of young people are met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Research informs all areas of practice within this setting. There is a commitment by managers to ensure that staff receive high-quality development opportunities. Learning is used to inform the care and support provided to young people and there is clear evidence of how this improves their quality of life. Inspection report children’s home: SC470928 5 The development of the home is guided by clear plans. These plans show a systematic and measurable approach to continually driving improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The statement of purpose has a mission statement: ‘Staff should act as champions for their children, expecting nothing less than a good parent would.’ The operation of the home demonstrates a wholehearted commitment to upholding this ethos, with the constant focus on meeting the needs of the young people.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: SC470928 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Nottingham City Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham NG2 3NG

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Inspector:

Amanda Ellis, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC470928 7 achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector:

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Inspector:

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Inspector:

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

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